News: 2007 Archive
Rites of Passage program produces responsible and proud young men
Thirty-one African American boys became young men at the Rites of Passage Induction Ceremony on May 11. Rites of Passage, an Africentric life enrichment program of Life Guidance Wellness and Prevention Services, is designed to emulate the African tradition of manhood training and preparation.
Participation in the 8-month Rites of Passage African life enrichment program helps the boys recognize the importance of culture, history, and ethnic identity in the development of individual values and consciousness. The program incorporates the SETCLAE (Self Esteem Through Culture Leads to Academic Excellence) program developed by Dr. Jananza Kunjufu as the base curriculum. The SETCLAE approach emphasizes self-esteem, culture, and academic excellence and provides the perfect vehicle upon which to build many practical lessons around drug abuse, sexuality, community service, and conflict resolution. While participating in the eight month program, the boys are provided the tools to become productive young men. The induction even includes an African history presentation, a praise dance, and culminates with the crossing over ceremony that symbolizes that the boys are now young men.
Willie Booker, who has been leading the program for 16 years, works with elementary school-ages boys, like Hasani and Austin, from the Garfield Park neighborhood.
Hasani, a fourth grader at North Godwin Elementary School, says that the Rites of Passage program “helped me not get into fights and not judge people”. He enjoyed learning about African history and all the people that fought for rights. He enjoys basketball, football, and running. He plans to be a CEO in the automotive industry when he grows up. He comments that since he’s been in the program, his parents “see me doing things that they don’t ask me to do”.
Austin, a fourth grade student at Campus Elementary School says that he is now “a better person, a better man” who can take charge and be a leader because of the Rites of Passage program. He enjoys sports and likes to run sprints in track. He plans to be a judge when he grows up. “Mr. Booker has been a good influence. I know now that if someone starts talking about African American history, that if they start out at slavery, I need to remind them that our history starts out as being kings and queens in Africa.” He looks forward to the ceremony that will make him a man and says that they will also “graduate in our souls”.
By teaching practical life skills and personal responsibility, African history, culture, and ethnic pride, lifelong habits and thought processes that will enhance the ability of our youth to withstand negative pressures and influences are set in motion. Rites of Passage is just one of the many wellness and prevention programs offered to area youth from Life Guidance Services. For more information, visit www.LifeGuidanceServices.org/wellness.
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Methadone Treatment Helps One Family Finally Recover From Their Addiction
There is a quiet couple who live in an attractive house in a peaceful Grand Rapids neighborhood. The home is neat and nicely decorated with framed photos and paintings. A two-year old girl with beautiful blue eyes keeps her parents busy as she wanders place to place getting into typical childish mischief.
But appearances belie a troubled past. Gary and Francis are former addicts and worked several jobs apiece to feed a $160-a-day heroin habit. Because of the stigma attached to drug addiction, they fear their family and neighbors may discover their past.
“It is a disease,” Gary says. “I don’t mean to avoid personal responsibility, but addictions are really a disease and if society doesn’t come to understand that, then people will continue to avoid getting help.”
Gary was addicted to heroin and crack cocaine for 14 years, Francis was addicted to heroin for six. Their lives were once defined by their addictions. Today, it is defined by parenthood.
“Heroin comes to define who you are, what you do and how you think,” she says. “Once I became pregnant, we came to define ourselves differently. We began to see beyond ourselves and knew we had to do something to straighten our lives out for our child.”
For Gary and Francis, the first step toward recovery came when they sought help at the Medication Assisted Treatment Program at Life Guidance Services in Grand Rapids. The program is funded by network180 and offers services designed to help addicted persons regain their lives.
“We began with methadone treatment. But there were some problems with that because people don’t understand methadone,” Gary says. “There is a perception that methadone is still a harmful drug.”
Gary explains that methadone is administered in small doses—only the amount necessary to control withdrawal symptoms. He says the medication does not make a person “high,” but helps people regain control of their lives.
“Methadone and the other medications they use are a real stabilizing factor,” Francis says. “Instead of defining ourselves by heroin, we define ourselves in other ways. The medications take away the constant need to satisfy an addiction.”
While Gary is still being weaned from medications to help him deal with addiction, Francis has moved to a medication-free lifestyle. One, she says, that enables her to tend to her child’s needs and at the same time complete a graduate degree at a local university.
“One of the most important aspects of the program is how we were treated by staff,” Francis says. “They never judged us and treated us with respect.”
Gary, who served a short time in jail for a minor offense, says much can be done to improve addiction treatment.
“The jail staff reflect society’s view that addictions are a moral weakness,” he says. “Some jails refuse to give you methadone even though you may have a prescription for it. The guards laugh as they watch you suffer through withdrawal. It is just one more way they can punish you. I doubt they would withhold medication if you had diabetes.”
Francis agrees that filling jails and prisons with persons with addictions is not an effective way to change such lifestyles.
“When you’re in jail, all you do is network and make new connections to get drugs when you get out,” she says. “Incarceration just isn’t the answer.”
In addition to medications, Gary says psychological treatment, such as group therapy, is helpful.
“Although heroin and other drugs are readily available, getting those drugs and using them is like a full-time job,” he says quietly as he remembers those dark days of addiction. “Once you begin treatment with methadone or other medications, you find you have a lot of time on your hands. That’s where counseling comes in. It’s all about redefining yourself beyond the drugs.”
Originally published in the summer 2007 issue of 180 Degrees. Republished with permission from Network180.
For more information about any of these stories, or to request an interview with a staff expert, please contact Ellen Erickson at (616) 776-0891 x101 or